CORPUS CHRISTI - Maybe a one-shot wonder. Possibly in it for the duration. This weekend could provide a tip in which direction the Texas A&M-Corpus Christi baseball team is headed.

The Islanders, fresh off their upset of Texas in Austin, now come across another traditional tough spot: The Kleberg Bank — formerly Whataburger — College Classic, which starts Friday at Whataburger Field.

Much as A&M-Corpus Christi was 1-14 against Texas before Tuesday's 8-7 victory, the classic has been a stumbling block. Against power-conference teams and baseball elite such as TCU and Rice — and excluding Texas-Pan American's appearance in 2009 — the Islanders are 2-13 in the event's five-year history.

In those 15 games, they have been outscored by 83 runs.

But now, with a 5-0 start and the Texas hex out of the way for the time being, the expectations are different.

"It's a different mindset. It's Whataburger Field, the College Classic. You're at home," A&M-Corpus Christi coach Scott Malone said. "Texas was great, don't get me wrong. It was a night I don't think any of us will forget. But it's your backyard now, and you feel, in a good way, that more people will be watching. That's a good thing, but be careful what you wish for."

It's a crucial juncture for the Islanders, even this early in the season. The team is coming off the Texas victory and now gets Big Ten's Indiana, Pac-10's Oregon State and Big East's UConn, a nationally ranked program.

Next week, A&M-Corpus Christi hosts Southland Conference favorite Texas State in the three-game league opener. The week after that, there are a series of contests against Texas Tech and Iowa in Lubbock. Then comes the heart of the conference schedule.

"I knew about what happened in the past, but I knew the coaches were doing a good job of bringing in people," said starting shortstop Drew Vest, a newcomer from the junior-college ranks. "We definitely have a lot of momentum. I think as long as the pitchers keep doing what they've been doing, we'll be fine."

The seniors also have shown strong initiative. Local standouts such as Jacob Perales and Trey Hernandez decided to join the Islanders because they believed they could change the direction of the program.

Four years later, it could be happening. Texas was a good first step. This weekend presents the chance for another leap.

"It gives us some confidence and motivation that we can hang with these big schools," said Perales, a former Moody High School standout. "Coach Malone always talks about the seniors leaving this place better than what we found it. That's what me, Trey and the other seniors are trying to do.

"With our pitching, our defense and hitting the way it is now, we just have to turn the corner."

Around the corner are Indiana, Oregon State and UConn, the latter two coming off NCAA regional showings last season. That's three major-conference teams in a row right on the heels of Texas.

"I talk to these kids about being professional. Control what you can control," Malone said. "It's like asking the Rangers, 'You have the Yankees and Red Sox back to back, you wish you had Kansas City?' They're all good. We want to be good every night we take the field.